Food Too Good Not to Share (and a first time for everything)
I grew up eating spaghetti and chili. What? For the uninitiated, the closest I can come to explaining is Skyline Chili, which I actually didn’t experience until fairly recently. Skyline does a fairly good job of imitating the legendary Fred & Red’s “Spaghetti Red” of my youth, although none will come close to the original.
The now-defunct, yet iconic diner formerly located in Joplin, Mo., will always hold fond memories for me and my family, oddly enough all of whom (except me) grew up in and around the area. I just visited there all my life. And with each stopover, I insisted on reliving that glorious dish, never straying from the same order each time.
Skyline 3-Way Chili
When we couldn’t make it to Joplin, my mom would make it at home and it was a family favorite, naturally. Years later, I served it to my Chicago-born-and-bred husband and he came to enjoy it as well (although admittedly maybe not as much as the rest of us). And, eventually, I discovered Skyline. Sadly, Skyline has no restaurants anywhere near Chicago and Fred & Red’s closed earlier this year after 89 years in business. Now I can’t even visit there when I go to see my dad in Joplin. Steak & Shake is a desperation substitute.
But, what am I thinking?! I adopted a PALEO lifestyle of eating. I wouldn’t dig into a plate full of spaghetti 
topped with greasy chili and mounds of cheddar cheese anyway!! Right? Right. So, you can imagine my delight when I purchased the wonderful “Well Fed” book by Melissa Joulwan and found not only a Chocolate Chili recipe that is to die for, and which is also available on her blog here, but the version in the book recommends it with spaghetti squash for a slice of heaven that brings me back home . . .
It marked THREE firsts for this paleo newbie:
- My first “followed-to-the-t” paleo recipe (I’d been winging it before now)
- My first meal sampled from the “Well Fed” book
- My first experience with spaghetti squash
Finished dish with fresh avocado and green onions
I’ll sum up what I discovered in two words. Home run. Seriously delicious. The leftovers? Even better. And the hus’ loved it too. Here is a pic of my own concoction. Needless to say, I thoroughly recommend it. This Whole30 thing is a snap! 🙂
P.S. Would love to hear from you if you like your spaghetti 3-way, 4-way, 5-way or otherwise! And doubly so if you’ve had this paleo version that I think outscores them all!
PR With a Twist 
I love everything about this blog post! I’m so glad you enjoyed the Chocolate Chili! And I, too, have a deep affection for Skyline Chili. I grew up in PA, but my husband is from Cincinnati, and every visit to his hometown means a stop at Skyline. I like mine 4-way with onions — never beans!
I’m working on a Cincinnati Chili recipe for Well Fed 2, so we’ll get even closer to that taste. YAY! Best wishes for continued paleo happiness!
Thanks so much for the encouragement and comment, Melissa! I can’t WAIT for the Cincy version, along with all the other things Well Fed 2 will undoubtedly have in store . . . sounds delish.